Pharmaceutical tracking

ABSTRACT

A medication-dispensing unit is provided for tracking medical products having a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag uniquely associated therewith. The dispensing unit includes compartments for receiving medical products therein, and readers for reading the RFID tags associated with the medical products in the compartments. A processor is coupled to the readers for receiving and processing readings of the RFID tags in the compartment to identify the medical products in the compartments. The processor may identify a medical product removed from a compartment by determining a difference between readings of the RFID tags in the compartment taken before and after the medical product is removed from the compartment. The processor may verify that the medical product removed from the compartment is authorized to be removed or confirmed that an identified patient is intended to receive the medical product being removed from the compartment. A system and method for counterfeit prevention is disclose, as is specimen, blood, organ and the like, tracking.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 10/085,472 and No. 10/086,183, both filed Feb. 26, 2002, thedisclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and methodsfor tracking, verifying and dispensing medical products, and moreparticularly to systems and methods for tracking and monitoring thereceipt and transfer of medical products within a facility, includingverifying authenticity or ensuring medical products are not counterfeit,as well as tracking and monitoring transfer and removal of medicalproducts from medication dispensing units and/or for inventoryingmedication dispensing units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the field of medicine, tracking and verifying medical productsfrom the manufacturer to a medical facility and the subsequent controland dispensing of such medical products is crucial to ensure that propermedical products are both received and dispensed correctly. Thisincludes monitoring the medical products such as pharmaceuticals toensure that none are counterfeit, tracking medical products as well asspecimens, blood products, organs and the like and, further, to tracksuch products throughout the medical facility. Consideringpharmaceuticals, for example, they typically move from the manufacturerto a hospital or medical warehouse, such as a pharmacy within ahospital, and from there they ultimately are dispensed typically to apatient within a hospital room.

[0004] In healthcare facilities, such as, hospitals, medical productsprescribed to patients may be temporarily stored inmedication-dispensing units. Typically, a healthcare facility has one ormore medication-dispensing units located on each floor and/or nursingstation of the healthcare facility for storing medical productsprescribed to patients on that floor. Each of the medication-dispensingunits may include lockable storage compartments to limit access of themedical products contained therein to authorized healthcare workers.Controlled substances, such as morphine, may be segregated intoindividual storage compartments in a medication-dispensing unit tocontrol access to these substances.

[0005] A healthcare worker, e.g., nurse, may log onto amedication-dispensing unit before administering medical products topatients. In order to authenticate the healthcare worker logging on, thedispensing unit may require the healthcare worker to scan anidentification badge. Alternatively, the healthcare worker may gainaccess to the medical products in the dispensing unit with an electronicor manual key. Once logged on, the healthcare worker may pull up a listof patients assigned to him or her, including the medical products to beadministered to the patients. The healthcare worker may then remove themedical products identified in the list of patients from the dispensingunit. In a further alternative, the dispensing unit may automaticallygrant the healthcare worker access to one or more individual storagecompartments including medical products.

[0006] The inventory of medical products in a medication-dispensing unitmay be monitored manually by requiring healthcare workers logged ontothe dispensing unit to perform inventory checks of medical products inthe dispensing unit, e.g., by counting the quantities of the medicalproducts in the dispensing unit. The healthcare workers may thenmanually report their inventory checks to the dispensing unit, e.g., byentering inventory counts into the dispensing unit with a keypad orother input device. The healthcare workers may perform the manualinventory checks before and/or after removing medical products from thedispensing unit.

[0007] One problem with a manual approach for monitoring the inventoryof medical products in a dispensing unit is that it relies on theaccuracy of healthcare workers to manually check and report theinventory of medical products in the dispensing unit, which introduceshuman error. Another problem with a manual approach is that it may notprevent a dishonest healthcare worker from removing one or moreunauthorized medical products, e.g., a controlled substance, from thedispensing unit. When this occurs, an unauthorized removal of a medicalproduct may not be detected until another healthcare worker performs aninventory check of the medical product in the dispensing unit anddetects a discrepancy. In this case, the healthcare worker detecting thediscrepancy may report it to a healthcare administrator so that theadministrator may investigate the discrepancy, e.g., by tracking downall of the healthcare workers that have logged onto the dispensing unitwithin a certain period of time. A problem with this approach is that afew days may pass before the unauthorized removal is detected, making itdifficult to track down all of the healthcare workers. This may beespecially troublesome if some of the healthcare workers are roamingnurses who only occasionally visit the healthcare facility in question.

[0008] Accordingly, automated systems and methods for tracking and/ormonitoring removing medical products from a medication-dispensing unitwould be considered useful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is directed to systems and methods fortracking, monitoring and inventorying medical products within ahealthcare facility, such as a hospital. This may include systems andmethods for monitoring medical products entering and/or leaving apharmacy, for dispensing medical products from a medication-dispensingunit, and/or for delivering medical products to individuals within thefacility.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, eachmedical product has a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag uniquelyassociated therewith. Each tag preferably includes data which allows theproduct to be checked for authenticity, for example, not counterfeit,and enables the product to be tracked within the facility. Preferablyeach RFID tag contains a unique serial number that cannot be altered orerased that has been provided by the manufacturer of the product. Theserial number can identify unique items, and the tag can have additionalinformation to help ensure that the product is not counterfeit. Theserial number and data can be provided to the healthcare facility suchas over the worldwide web, by e-mail, postal mail or CD Roms with orseparate from shipments. The hospital can include the appropriate RFIDtag reader, and all products received can be scanned and verified asauthentic, and then entered into the inventory system of the hospitalelectronically. Any product not in conformance can be rejected at thetime of scan.

[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, theproducts are tracked and monitored through the healthcare facility bymonitoring the RFID tags by readers within apparatus such as medicinecabinets and the like. For example, the apparatus can include a casinghaving one or more compartments for receiving one or more medicalproducts therein. One or more readers are provided for reading the RFIDtags associated with the medical products in the compartment. Forexample, a single reader may read the RFID tags of all of the medicalproducts simultaneously in the casing, or one or more readers may beprovided for each compartment.

[0012] A processor is coupled to the reader for receiving and processingreadings of the RFID tags in the compartment to identify the medicalproducts in the compartment. The processor may identify a medicalproduct removed from the compartment by determining a difference betweenreadings of the RFID tags in the compartment taken before and after themedical product is removed from the compartment. Optionally, theprocessor may verify that the medical product removed from thecompartment is authorized to be removed, e.g., by comparing a productidentifier associated with the RFID tag of the removed medical productto a product identifier of a medical product authorized to be removedfrom the compartment. The product identifier may include at least one ofa product name, a product serial number, a product lot number, and apatient identifier.

[0013] The apparatus may also include a display coupled to the processorfor displaying a mismatch notification on the display when the processordetects a mismatch between the product identifier read from the RFID tagof the removed medical product and the product identifier of the medicalproduct authorized to be removed. Optionally, the apparatus may includean input device coupled to the processor for identifying a patient to beassociated with one or more medical products being removed from thecompartment.

[0014] The apparatus may also include a return compartment for returningunused medical products, and a reader for reading an RFID tag of anyreturned medical product placed in the return compartment, the processorcoupled to the reader for identifying the returned medical product.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, amethod is provided for monitoring removal of medical products stored ina medication-dispensing unit, each of the medical products comprising aRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag uniquely associated therewith.The RFID tags of the medical products in an individual compartment or inthe dispensing unit may be read before removing one or more medicalproducts from the dispensing unit. One or more medical products may beremoved from the dispensing unit, and then the RFID tags of the medicalproducts remaining in the individual compartment or dispensing unit maybe read after the one or more medical products are removed from thedispensing unit. A difference between the readings of the RFID tagstaken before and after the one or more medical products are removed fromthe dispensing unit may be determined to identify the one or moremedical products removed from the dispensing unit.

[0016] Optionally, the dispensing unit may automatically verify that theone or more medical products removed from the dispensing unit areauthorized to be removed from the dispensing unit. For example, aproduct name identified by an RFID tag removed from the dispensing unitmay be compared with a product name authorized to be removed from thedispensing unit. In addition or alternatively, a patient may beidentified, and a product name identified by the RFID tag removed fromthe dispensing unit may be compared with a list of medical productsscheduled for deliver to the identified patient.

[0017] In another option, the dispensing unit may transmit an inventorynotice from the dispensing unit when a quantity of RFID tags storedwithin the dispensing unit falls below a threshold and/or to provide acurrent inventory of the contents of the dispensing unit.

[0018] In yet another option, a medical product may be returned to thedispensing unit, and the RFID tags of the medical products in thedispensing unit may be read before and after the medical product isreturned to the dispensing unit. A difference between the readings ofthe RFID tags taken before and after the medical products are returnedto the dispensing unit may be used to identify the medical productreturned to the dispensing unit. In addition, an intended patient forthe returned medical product may be identified, and a notice may besent, e.g., to a pharmacy, doctor, administrator, and the like, that theintended patient did not receive the returned medical product.

[0019] It will be appreciated that any of these procedures, e.g.,identifying medical products removed or returned to a dispensing unit,inventorying contents, and/or identifying intended patients, may beperformed separately from one another or together.

[0020] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention,an apparatus is provided for monitoring administration of medicalproducts to a patient, each of the medical products including a RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) tag for storing data related to therespective medical product. The apparatus includes a reader forsubstantially simultaneously reading RFID tags associated with aplurality of medical products to obtain the data stored in the RFIDtags, and a processor coupled to the reader for comparing the dataobtained from the RFID tags with data associated with a patient toverify that the patient is intended to receive the medical products. Ina preferred embodiment, the reader is an antenna in a read pad forreading the RFID tags associated with the medical products when themedical products are placed in close proximity to the read pad, e.g.,when the medical products are placed on a surface of the read pad.

[0021] Optionally, the apparatus may include an output device coupled tothe processor; the processor activates the output device when theprocessor detects a mismatch between the data obtained from the RFIDtags and the data associated with the patient.

[0022] During use, one or more medical products may be placed in closeproximity to a RF antenna, e.g., the reader, and the Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) tags associated with the medical products may beread using the RF antenna to obtain the data stored in the RFID tags.Each of the plurality of medical products may be identified based uponthe data obtained from the RFID tags. Optionally, data associated with apatient may be accessed, and the processor or a computer devicecommunicating with the processor may verify that the patient is intendedto receive the medical product by comparing the data obtained from theRFID tag with the data associated with the patient.

[0023] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention,RFID tags can be provided for other items being processed in some way ina hospital, lab or the like. For example, these tags can be applied tospecimen containers to enable complete tracking of specimens fromretrieval through lab testing and on to patient treatment. Similarly,these tags can be applied to containers for organs to enable organmatches, history, typing and the like and to prevent mix-ups such asproviding an incorrect organ or type to a patient. Also, these tags canbe used for blood products control including typing, history such asdonor information and the like, blood constituents tracking to originaldonor and blood typing history information from donor to recipient.Furthermore, various medical facility items, such as gowns, patientrecords and the like, can incorporate RFID tags to facilitate trackingthereof according to the present invention.

[0024] Other objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from consideration of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1A shows a delivery device including an RFID tag, inaccordance with the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 1B shows a medical container including an RFID tag, inaccordance with the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of a system for tracking andmonitoring medical products, in accordance with the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 2b is a flow chart for facilitating counterfeit prevention.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a flowchart, showing a method for tracking the inventoryof medical products in a pharmacy, in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0030]FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a medication-dispensing unit, inaccordance with the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a flowchart, showing a method for verifying that amedication-dispensing unit receives medical products, in accordance withthe present invention.

[0032]FIG. 6 is a flowchart, showing a method for verifying that ahealthcare worker only removes medical products from the dispensing unitthat he or she is authorized to remove, in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0033]FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a bedside terminal, in accordancewith the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 8 is a flowchart, showing a method for verifying that ahealthcare worker intends to administer the correct medical products toa patient, in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The present invention provides systems and methods for trackingand monitoring medical products within a healthcare facility, such as ahospital, clinic, or the like. The medical products may includevaccines, pharmaceuticals, or other therapeutic or diagnostic agents, aswell as specimens, blood products, organs and the like.

[0036] The medical products may be placed in drug delivery devices, suchas syringes or other injection devices. FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplarydrug delivery device 12 in the form of a syringe. Each of the drugdelivery devices 12 may contain a unit dose of the medical product, suchas a pre-filled syringe or ampoule. In addition, or alternatively, eachof the delivery devices 12 may include a holder (not shown) within whicha syringe or other medical cartridge may be received and/or a needleguard device (not shown) that may be attached to a syringe or medicalcartridge. In a further alternative, the medical products may be placedin medical containers, such as bottles, vials, IV bags, pouches, and thelike, or packaging (not shown) from which the medical products may beremoved and administered to patients. FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplarymedical container 15 in the form of a vial.

[0037] The medical products are tracked within the healthcare facilityby attaching a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag 20 to each ofthe delivery devices 12 and/or medical containers 15 containing themedical products, as explained further below. FIGS. 1A and 1B show anexemplary RFID tag 20 attached to a delivery device 12 and a medicalcontainer 15, respectively. Each of the RFID tags 20 includes awrite/read memory (not shown) for storing information and a built-inantenna (not shown) for communicating with a RF reader/writer. A RFreader may include an antenna for reading information stored in the RFIDtag 20, e.g., by transmitting an RF interrogation signal to induce theRFID tag 20 to transmit its information to the RF reader, which isdetected by the antenna. The RFID tag 20 may be active, i.e., powered byan internal power source, or passive, i.e., powered by a RF signaltransmitted from the RF reader.

[0038] The RFID tag 20 attached to each of the delivery devices 12,medical containers 15, and/or packaging (not shown) stores informationrelated to the medical product contained therein. The information in theRFID tag 20 may include product information, such as a serial numberand/or a National Drug Code (NDC) associated with the medical product, aproduct name, a manufacture's name, a lot number, and/or an expirationdate. Alternatively, the information in the RFID tag 20 may include aproduct identifier uniquely associated with one or more entries in adatabase that may be accessed to obtain information related to themedical product. The information in the RFID tag 20 may also includedosage information, identifying the amount and/or concentration of themedical product, and/or a patient identifier identifying a patientintended to receive the medical product. Other optional information mayinclude administration requirements, instructions for use and/or productwarning, such as possible allergic reactions or adverse interaction ofthe product with other medical products. Other information that may bestored in the RFID tag 20 is given below. Information may be writteninto the RFID tag 20 by the manufacturer of the medical product and/orthe healthcare facility receiving the medical product. Some or all ofthe information in the RFID tag 20 may also be printed on the outersurface of the RFID tag 20 so that a healthcare worker may visually readthe information.

[0039] Each of the RFID tags 20 may be made thin and flexible, allowingthe RFID tag 20 to be attached to a delivery device 12, medicalcontainer 15, and/or packaging (not shown) so that it does not interferewith using the delivery device 12 or medical container 15. For example,an RFID tag 20 maybe affixed around the barrel of a syringe 12, asillustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0040] RFID tags 20 offer several advantages over conventional barcodetags. For example, a RF reader does not require a line of sight betweenitself and a RFID tag 20 to read the information in the RFID tag 20. Inaddition, a RF reader may read many RFID tags 20 at a time, while abarcode reader or scanner can only read one barcode tag at a time.Furthermore, RFID tags 20 may be smaller, more accurate, more durable,and may be capable of storing more information than barcode tags.

[0041]FIG. 2a is a diagram illustrating a system 110 for tracking andmonitoring medical products according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention. The system 110 may be implemented at a healthcare facility,such as a hospital, a nursing home, a clinic, or the like.

[0042] The system 110 includes a healthcare management computer 115 anda healthcare database 120. The healthcare management computer 115manages and stores information related to the operation of thehealthcare facility in the healthcare database 120. The managementcomputer 115 may be a central computer and/or a network of computers andmay or may not be physically located on the premises of the healthcarefacility. The system 110 also includes a pharmacy terminal 130 coupledto a RF reader/writer 135 and a medication dispensing terminal 140coupled to a RF reader 145. The system 110 further includes a bedsideterminal 150 coupled to a RF reader 155, which may be located at or nearthe bedside of a patient (not shown). Each of the terminals 130,140,150preferably includes a processor, memory, an input device, and an outputdevice (all not shown) for performing the tasks described below. The useof RFID tags and RF readers allows individual medical products to bescanned and also allows boxes of medical products to be scanned at once.Thus, the products can be read at any appropriate station, namely, thepharmacy, dispensing terminal, bed side terminal and the like.

[0043] In addition, each of the RF readers 135,145,155 may be built intotheir respective terminal 130,140,150. Each of the terminals 130,140,150as described later may be linked to the management computer 115 viacommunications links 160,165,170, respectively. The communications links160,165,170 may be cable links, optical links, and/or wireless links,e.g., short-range RF links. Preferably, each of the terminals130,140,150 may access patient and/or medical product information storedin the healthcare database 120 via the communications links 160,165,170.

[0044] The information stored in the healthcare database 120 may includea patient file uniquely associated with each individual patient admittedin the healthcare facility. Each of the patient files may include thepatient's name, address, social security number, and/or patient ID,which may be assigned to the patient upon admission to the healthcarefacility. Each of the patient files may also include the medicalproducts prescribed to the respective patient and/or a record of themedical products administered to the respective patient, including datesand time of administration, the healthcare worker who administered themedical products, and the like. Each of the patient files may alsoinclude the current location of the respective patient within thehealthcare facility, e.g., the floor and/or room number of the patientin the healthcare facility. The information in the database 120 mayfurther include insurance billing information for each individualpatient, including the name, telephone number, billing address, and/orgroup ID of the patient's insurer. In addition, the information in thedatabase 120 may include a healthcare worker file associated with eachindividual healthcare worker working at the healthcare facility. Each ofthe healthcare worker files may include reports reflecting the workperformance of the healthcare worker, as explained further below.Additional information that may be stored in the database 120 is givenbelow.

[0045]FIG. 2b is a flow chart illustrating a counterfeit preventionaspect of the present invention and provides more detail with regard tothe application and content of RFID tags. The manufacturer's facility isillustrated at 200 and the healthcare facility such as a hospital ormedical warehouse is illustrated at 202. A product batch 204 such assyringes, pharmaceuticals or the like, each has applied thereto a labelwith an RFID tag at 206. Appropriate data is written to the tag at 208,such as the manufacturer identification, NDC, lot number, expirationdate and whatever other information may be desired. Each RFID tagcontains a unique serial number that cannot be altered or erased. Thisserial number is used to identify a unique item. In addition to theunique serial number contained on the tag, the tag can have additionalinformation written up to a limited number of characters. At present,typical RFID tags can contain up to 192 characters in addition to theserial number. A master product database 210 stores all of the relevantinformation with regard to the products, and this information can beprovided or transferred as indicated by link 220 to the hospital.

[0046] As indicated further in FIG. 2b, the product is received at 226,the tags scanned at 228 and verified at 230. The RF scan 228 includes ascanner and software that reads individual, or multiple itemssimultaneously to interpret the serial number as well as any otherinformation stored on the tag. In order to eliminate or minimizecounterfeiting, the manufacturer places such tags on all products ofconcern. Serial number lists are provided to the hospital via link 220over the world wide web, via e-mail, CD ROMs, or the like, with orseparate from shipments of the products. Thus, the products are scannedupon receipt at the hospital and verified as authentic and then enteredinto the inventory system electronically. Any product not in conformancewith appropriate serial numbers is rejected at the scan and theappropriate action taken by the pharmacy personnel. If attempts are madeto remove tags from the product or the packaging, the tags will bedamaged and will read as defective products on the tag scanner.

[0047] Turning to FIG. 3, after the product is verified as authentic, amethod for tracking the inventory of medical products in a pharmacy ofthe healthcare facility is shown and will now be described according toan embodiment of the invention. The healthcare database 120 in thisembodiment includes a pharmacy inventory of the medical products storedin the pharmacy.

[0048] In step 310, the pharmacy receives a shipment of medicalproducts. Preferably, each of the medical products may be identified byan RFID tag 20, which may be attached to a delivery device 12 and/ormedical container 15 containing the medical product. Each of the RFIDtags 20 may include product information for the associated medicalproduct, including a serial number and/or a NDC, the product name, themanufacturer's name, a lot number, and/or an expiration date.Alternatively, or in addition, each of the RFID tags 20 may include aproduct identifier uniquely associated with one or more entries in adatabase that may be accessed to obtain information related to theassociated medical product.

[0049] In step 320, the product information in the RFID tags 20 of thereceived medical products is read into the pharmacy terminal 130 usingthe RF reader 135. In step 330, the pharmacy terminal 130 transmits theproduct information read from the RFID tags 20 of the received medicalproducts to the management computer 115 via the communications link 160.In step 340, the management computer 115 uses the received informationto update the pharmacy inventory in the database 120 accordingly. Thepharmacy inventory may-be updated to include the product name, amount,and/or expiration date of each of the medical products received by thepharmacy.

[0050] In an optional step 350, the database 120 receives information ofthe medical products shipped to the healthcare facility from themanufacturer. This information may be downloaded into the database 120from a remote manufacturer database (not shown) via, e.g., an Internetlink, from a CD-ROM disc included with the medical product shipment, orthe like. The information of the medical products shipped to thehealthcare facility may include the serial number, NDC, and product nameof each of the medical products shipped to the healthcare facility.

[0051] In step 360, the management computer 115 compares the informationof the medical products shipped to the healthcare facility with theinformation received from the pharmacy terminal 130 to verify that allof the medical products shipped to the healthcare facility were receivedby the pharmacy. This comparison may be carried out, e.g., by having themanagement computer 115 compare the serial numbers of the medicalproducts shipped to the healthcare facility with the serial numbers readfrom the RFID tags 20 of the received medical products. If themanagement computer 115 detects a mismatch between the medical productsshipped to the healthcare facility and the medical products received bythe pharmacy in step 360, the management computer 115 may transmit anotification of the detected mismatch to the pharmacy terminal 130. Thenotification may then be displayed to a healthcare worker at thepharmacy, e.g., via a display (not shown) at the pharmacy terminal 130.The notification may include specific information of the mismatch, suchas the identity of any shipped medical products missing from thepharmacy.

[0052] In one embodiment, the management computer 115 automaticallyorders a medical product from a manufacturer and/or wholesaler when theamount of the medical product stored in the pharmacy 130 drops below apredetermined minimal level. This may be done, e.g., by having themanagement computer 115 monitor the amount of the medical product in thepharmacy using the pharmacy inventory in the database 120. When theamount of the medical product in the pharmacy inventory drops below theminimal level, the management computer 115 may place an electronic orderfor the medical product to a manufacturer computer, e.g., via anInternet link.

[0053] When a physician prescribes a medical product to a patient, theprescription is forwarded to the pharmacy, e.g., electronically or inthe form of a handwritten prescription. The prescription may include thefrequency, dosage, and duration that the medical product is to beadministered to the patient. The prescription may also be sent to themanagement computer 115 to be included in the associated patient file inthe healthcare database 120. A pharmacist at the pharmacy may preparethe prescribed medical product for administration to the patient inaccordance with the prescription. This may involve transferring and/oradmixing unit doses of the prescribed medical product from a bulkmedical container into separate delivery devices 12. Preferably, each ofthe delivery devices 12 has a RFID tag 20 attached thereon into whichinformation related to the medical product contained therein may bewritten using the RF writer 135. The written information may include theproduct name and dosage of the medical product in the delivery device,and/or the name, patient ID and/or the location of the patient intendedto receive the medical product. In addition, the written information mayinclude the identity of the pharmacist or other health care workerpreparing the medical product and/or the date and time that the medicalproduct was prepared.

[0054] Alternatively, or in addition, the prescribed medical product maybe shipped to the pharmacy from the manufacturer in unit-dose deliverydevices 12 or medication containers 15, e.g., vials, bottles, bags, andthe like. In this case, the pharmacist may use the RF writer 135 towrite additional information into each of the RFID tags 20 attached tothe delivery devices 12 and/or medication containers 15, including thename, patient ID and/or location of the patient intended to receive themedical product. Optionally, individual delivery devices 12 and/ormedication containers 15 may be assigned to individual patients as theyare removed from a dispensing unit (not shown), as described furtherbelow.

[0055] After the medical product is prepared for the patient, themedical product may be grouped with other prepared medical products fortransport to a medication-dispensing unit. As the medical products arewithdrawn from the pharmacy for transportation to themedication-dispensing unit, the information in the RFID tags 20 of themedical products may be read into the pharmacy terminal 130 using the RFreader 135. For example, all of the medical products may be identifiedby passing a cart or other device carrying the medical products intoclose proximity with the RF reader 135, thereby simultaneously readingall of the RFID tags 20 identifying the medical products. For example,the RF reader 135 may be mounted to a doorway of the pharmacy forautomatically reading the RFID tags 20 of the medical products as theyare withdrawn from the pharmacy. The pharmacy terminal 130 may alsoidentify the medication-dispensing unit intended to receive the medicalproducts. This may be done by having a healthcare worker manually enterthe identity of the dispensing unit into the pharmacy terminal 130,and/or reading a RFID tag identifying the dispensing unit using the RFreader 135. This may also be done by reading a patient identifier and/orlocation from the RFID tags 20 of the medical products into the pharmacyterminal 130 and having the pharmacy terminal 130 access a databasematching the patient identifier and/or location with an assigneddispensing unit. The pharmacy terminal 130 may also identify thehealthcare worker transporting the medical products to the dispensingunit. This may be done by having the healthcare worker enter a codeand/or pin number uniquely associated with the healthcare worker intothe pharmacy terminal 130, and/or reading a RFID tag identifying thehealthcare worker using the RF reader 135.

[0056] The pharmacy terminal 130 may then transmit the information readfrom RFID tags 20 of the medical products to the management computer 115via the communications link 160. The pharmacy terminal 130 may alsotransmit the identity of the dispensing unit to receive the medicalproducts and/or the identity of the healthcare worker transporting themedical products to the dispensing unit. The management computer 115uses the received information to record the medical products beingwithdrawn from the pharmacy in the database 120 and to update thepharmacy inventory in the database 120 accordingly. The record of themedical products being withdrawn from the pharmacy may include theproduct name and amount of each of the medical product being withdrawn.The record may also include the date and time that the medical productsare withdrawn from the pharmacy, the identity of the dispensing unit toreceive the medical products, and/or the identity of the healthcareworker transporting the medical products to the dispensing unit.

[0057] Medication-dispensing unit may be placed throughout the medicalfacility for temporarily storing medical products and for dispensing themedical products to healthcare workers, e.g., nurses, assigned toadminister the medical products to patients. Each of themedication-dispensing units, e.g., stationary medication stations and/ormovable medication carts, may be located on the same floor, wing, andthe like of the healthcare facility as the patients intended to receivethe medical products stored therein.

[0058]FIG. 4a illustrates an exemplary medication-dispensing unit 410according to an embodiment of the invention. The dispensing unit 410includes a casing 435 including one or more and preferably a pluralityof storage compartments 440 for storing medical products therein. Eachof the storage compartments 440 may store medical products for anindividual patient or for general use. The dispensing unit 410 mayinclude lockable doors for controlling access to the storagecompartments 440. Alternatively, or in addition, the dispensing unit 410may include lockable drawers that may be pulled out from the storagecompartments 440.

[0059] The dispensing unit further includes a medication dispensingterminal 140 and a RF reader or scanner. 145. The dispensing terminal140 further includes a display 420, e.g., a monitor, which can be atouch screen as an input device or an optional keyboard 430, asillustrated in FIG. 4a.

[0060] Preferably, the RF reader 145 is configured to read the RFID tags20 inside the storage compartments 440 of the dispensing unit 410. Toaccomplish this, the RF reader 145 may be made up of a plurality of RFreaders, each of the RF readers configured to read the RFID tags 20 inone of the storage compartments 440. Alternatively, a single RF readermay be used to read the RFID tags 20 of the entire contents of thedispensing unit 410.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, the medical dispensing unit410 has one or more drawers or compartments 440 each with individualsections 442 that have the capability of storing medications. On utilitydrawer space 450 houses a single board PC 460, the RFID scanner 145 andthe associated power circuitry.

[0062] The dispensing station unit is connected to a computer server 115(FIG. 2) via a local area network (LAN) for communications to and fromdatabases. The server stores a database or databases containing variousfields of information pertinent to patient identification, medications,manufacturers, medication expiration dating, medication lot numbers,patient history and the like. Within the dispensing unit, there are oneor more RFID antennas 464 on the PCB 460 that enable reading RFID taggedproduct within the drawer compartment 440. These antennas 464 are in afixed location in the dispensing station such that when the drawer 440is closed, the antennas 464 are located directly under the closed drawer440 as seen in FIG. 4a.

[0063] As an alternate method, the antenna PCB 464 can be mounted to thesidewalls 468 of the dispensing station 410 as shown in FIG. 4b. Asanother alternative, the antenna PCB 460 can also attach to the bottomof the drawer 440 and connected to the dispensing unit 410 via anumbilical 470 as shown in FIG. 4c.

[0064] RFID Tags can be placed directly on the product to be monitoredor its packaging. Each drawer compartment 440 can be read separately ortogether as a system. A user accesses the system according to thedispensing station flow chart shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and describedfurther below. When a user shuts a drawer 440, a sensing device such asa switch (not shown) detects the closure and sends a signal via an I/Orelay to the computer of the terminal 140. The circuit also detects adrawer in the open condition. The computer software program preferablyhas a drawer open time-out function. Once a preset time has expired, thesystem goes into an alarm mode. The computer is pre-programmed toperform a sequence of operations including the initiation of an RF fieldthrough the antennas 468. Product containing the RFID tag in the drawerare then energized by the RF field, and an exchange of data to thecomputer takes place. This exchange comprises information that is storedon the tag being transmitted to the computer for interpretation by thesoftware program. The scanner circuitry is capable to both “read” RFIDtags and “write to” RFID tags. The dispensing unit 410 can be on wheelsfor portability or without wheels for fixed location.

[0065] Optionally, the dispensing unit 410 also may include one or morereturn compartments or bins (not shown) for unused medical products, asexplained further below. Each return bin may include a slot or drawer(not shown) for placing one or more medical products therein, e.g., suchthat the medical products cannot be removed from the return bin withoutgaining authorization to override a lock and open the return bin. Eachreturn bin may include a RF reader for reading the RFID tags of anyreturned medical products placed in the return bin, e.g., to inventoryreturned medical products. Alternatively, a single RF reader of thedispensing unit 410 may read any RFID tags of medical products in thereturn bin, along with the RFID tags of medical products in the othercompartments.

[0066] Turning to FIG. 5, a method for verifying that the medicalproducts transported to the dispensing unit 410 from the pharmacy arereceived by the dispensing unit 410 is described according to apreferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the healthcare database 120includes a dispensing unit inventory of the medical products in thedispensing unit 410.

[0067] In step 510, the dispensing terminal 140 reads the RFID tags 20inside the dispensing unit 410 before the dispensing unit 410 receivesthe medical products from the pharmacy. In step 520, a healthcare workerplaces the medical products from the pharmacy in the dispensing unit410. In step 530, the dispensing terminal 140 reads the RFID tags 20inside the dispensing unit 410 after the medical products are placed inthe dispensing unit 410. In step 540, the dispensing terminal 140identifies the medical products placed in the dispensing unit 410 bydetermining the difference between the RFID tag readings taken beforeand after the medical products are placed in the dispensing unit 410.Alternatively, the dispensing terminal 140 may transmit the RFID tagreadings to the management computer 115 so that the management computer115 may identify the medical products placed in the dispensing unit. Instep 550, the dispensing terminal 140 transmits information of themedical products received by the dispensing unit 410 to the managementcomputer 115 via the communications link 165. This information mayinclude the product information read from the RFID tags 20 of thereceived medical products. The management computer 115 uses theinformation received from the dispensing terminal 130 to update thedispensing unit inventory in the database 120 accordingly.

[0068] In step 560, the management computer 115 may verify that thedispensing unit 410 received all of the medical products withdrawn fromthe pharmacy for transport to the dispensing unit 410 by, e.g.,comparing the medical products received by the dispensing unit 410 withthe record of the medical products withdrawn from the pharmacy. If themanagement computer 115 detects a mismatch between the medical productsreceived by the dispensing unit 410 and the medical products withdrawnfrom the pharmacy, the management computer 115 may transmit anotification of the detected mismatch to the dispensing terminal 140 viacommunications link 165. The dispensing terminal 140 may then notify thehealthcare worker at the dispensing unit 410 of the mismatch, e.g., viathe display. The notification may include specific information of themismatch, such as the identity of any medical products missing from thedispensing unit 410. The dispensing terminal 140 may then give thehealthcare worker an opportunity to correct the mismatch, e.g., byrepeating the above steps 520 through 560. The management computer 115may include a report of the mismatch in the associated healthcare workerfile, including whether the healthcare worker corrected the mismatchand/or specific information of the mismatch, such as the identity ofmissing medical products. If the healthcare worker fails to correct themismatch, the management computer 115 may notify a healthcareadministrator via a terminal display (not shown) linked to themanagement computer 115 so that the healthcare administrator may takeappropriate action.

[0069] In one embodiment, the management computer 115 periodicallyperforms an inventory check of the medical products in the dispensingunit 410 to detect any unauthorized removal of medical products from thedispensing unit 410. The management computer 115 may check the inventoryof the dispensing unit 410 by transmitting a request to the dispensingterminal 130, via the communications link 160, to read the RFID tags 20of the medical products inside the dispensing unit 410. After readingthe RFID tags 20, the dispensing terminal 130 may transmit informationfrom the read RFID tags 20 to the management computer 115. Themanagement computer 115 may then compare the information from the readRFID tags 20 with the dispensing unit inventory stored in the database120. If the management computer 115 detects a mismatch, then themanagement computer 115 may notify a healthcare administrator of themismatch via a terminal display (not shown) linked to the managementcomputer 115. The notification may include the identity of any medicalproducts missing from the dispensing unit 410. In a further embodiment,a healthcare worker at a terminal (not shown) linked to the managementcomputer 115 may remotely request the management computer 115 to performan inventory check of the dispensing unit 410, e.g., to seek adispensing unit for a needed or missing medical product.

[0070] Turning to FIG. 6, a method for verifying that a healthcareworker, e.g., nurse, only removes those medical products from thedispensing unit 410 for the patients assigned to him or her will now bedescribed.

[0071] The healthcare worker may begin or resume a round, in which he orshe is to administer medical products to patients assigned to him or herin the round. In step 620, the healthcare worker may log onto thedispensing terminal 140, e.g. by swiping an electronic card, by enteringa PIN number uniquely associate with the healthcare worker into theinput device, or by reading an RFID tag worn by the healthcare worker.In step 630, once the healthcare worker is logged on, he or she may pullup information of the patients assigned to him or her in the round,which is displayed on the display. The information may include thepatients' names and the medical products to be administered to thepatients in the round, or all the prescribed drugs for that patient. Theinformation may be preloaded in the dispensing terminal 140 ordownloaded into the dispensing terminal 140 from the associated patientfiles in the database 120 via the communications link 165.

[0072] The healthcare worker enters into the terminal from the list theidentity of the drugs or drugs needed for the patient or patients at634. The software program determines whether these drugs are appropriateones for the particular patient or patients, and the drawer 440containing the drug or drugs opens as indicated at 636. Thus, the workergains access to the medical products by the dispensing unit 410automatically opening the drawer or storage compartment 440 containingthe medical products to be removed. In step 640 the worker removes themedical products to be administered. Alternatively, the health careworker may use an electronic or manual key to gain access to the drawer440 containing the medical products to be removed. The drawer is thenclosed by the operator as indicated at 642 in the flow chart, and adrawer closed sensor sends a signal to the PC of the terminal 140 asindicated at 644. Then, the PC initiates and RFID tag read as describedearlier in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 as indicated at 650, toidentify the medical products taken from the dispensing unit by thehealthcare worker. As will be apparent from the earlier discussion ofFIG. 4, the RF read can be of one or more drawers depending on thesystem design. Thus, in step 650 the dispensing terminal 140 identifiesthe medical products removed from the dispensing unit 410 by thehealthcare worker. The dispensing terminal 140 may do this by, forexample, reading the RFID tags 20 inside the dispensing unit before andafter the healthcare worker removes the medical products from thedispensing unit 410. The dispensing terminal 140 may then determine thedifference between the two RFID tag readings to detect removal of theRFID tags 20, and consequently the medical products having the RFID tags20, from the dispensing unit 410, and thereby identify the medicalproducts removed from the dispensing unit 410.

[0073] In step 660, the dispensing terminal 140 may verify that thehealthcare worker removed only those medical products that he or she wasauthorized to remove. The dispensing terminal 140 may do this, e.g., bycomparing the medical products removed from the dispensing unit 410 withthe medical products to be administered in the round. For example, thedispensing terminal 140 may compare the product names and/or dosages ofthe removed medical products with the product names and/or dosages ofthe medical products to be administered in the round. The dispensingterminal 140 may obtain the names and/or dosages of the removed medicalproducts from the RFID tag reading taken before the medical products areremoved from the dispensing unit 410. The product names and dosages ofthe medical products to be administered in the round may be downloadedfrom the associated patient files in the database 120. Alternatively, orin addition, the dispensing terminal 140 may compare the intendedpatients of the removed medical products with the patients to beadministered in the round.

[0074] If the dispensing terminal 140 detects a mismatch between themedical products removed from the dispensing unit and the medicalproducts to be administered during the round, the dispensing terminal140 may notify the healthcare worker of the detected mismatch via thedisplay 420. Alternatively, or in addition, the dispensing terminal 140may notify the healthcare worker using an audio indicator, e.g., buzzer,and/or a visual signal indicator, e.g., a flashing light. The dispensingterminal 140 may provide the healthcare worker, via the display 420,with the specifics of the detected mismatch, such as the identity ofmedical products that the healthcare worker was not authorized to removefrom the dispensing unit 410. The dispensing terminal 140 may then givethe healthcare worker an opportunity to correct the mismatch, e.g., byreturning an unauthorized medical product to the dispensing unit 410 andrepeating steps 640-650. The unauthorized medical product(s) may bereturned to the compartment(s) from which it(they) were removed, or maybe placed in a return bin, specifically intended for returned medicalproducts.

[0075] The dispensing terminal 140 may transmit information of themedical products removed from the dispensing unit 410 to the managementcomputer 115 via the communications link 160. The information mayinclude the product information and intended patients of the removedmedical products. The management computer 115 may use the receivedinformation from the dispensing terminal 140 to update the dispensingunit inventory in the database 120 accordingly. The received informationmay also include any detected mismatch that occurred during removal ofthe medical products from the dispensing unit 410. If a mismatch occurs,the management computer 115 may include a report of the mismatch in theassociated healthcare worker file, including specific information of themismatch and whether the healthcare worker corrected the mismatch. Sucha report may allow the healthcare facility administration to evaluatethe work performance and/or honesty of the healthcare worker.

[0076] After retrieving the medical products from the dispensing unit410, the healthcare worker may visit the patients assigned to him or herin the round to administer the medical products. While visiting eachpatient in the round, the healthcare worker may administer the medicalproducts prescribed to that patient.

[0077] Each of the patients may be provided with a bedside terminal 150for verifying that the patient receives the correct medical productsduring the round. FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary bedside terminal 150according to an embodiment of the invention. The bedside terminal 150may include a RF read pad 710 having a built-in RF reader 155 (not shownin FIG. 7), an input device 720, e.g., a keypad or a touch screen, andan output device 730, e.g., an LCD display, or a sound or visualindicator. The RF reader 150 may be configured to read the RFID tags 20of medical products placed onto the RF read pad 710. Alternatively, theRF reader 155 may be a separate device coupled to the bedside terminal150, e.g., via a direct or wireless link. For example, the RF reader 155may be a separate device located at an entrance, e.g., doorway, of apatient's room for automatically reading the RFID tags 20 of medicalproducts as a healthcare worker carrying the medical products enters thepatient's room.

[0078] Turning now to FIG. 8, a method for verifying that the healthcareworker administers the correct medical products to a patient at thepatient's bedside will now be described.

[0079] In step 810, the bedside terminal 150 identifies the patient tobe administered the medical product. This may be done manually by havingthe healthcare worker enter patient identification information, e.g.,patient ID, into the bedside terminal 150 using a keypad. The patientidentification information may be provided to the healthcare worker by achart at the patient's bedside or a wristband worn by the patient.Alternatively, the patient identifier may be provided in a patient RFIDtag read by the RF reader 155 of the bedside terminal 150. The patientRFID tag may be attached to a chart or a wristband worn by the patient.In still another alternative, the patient identifier may be preloadedinto the memory of the bedside terminal 150.

[0080] In step 820, the healthcare worker takes out the medical productshe or she intends to administer to the patient. In step 830, thehealthcare worker may read the RFID tags 20 of these medical productsinto the bedside terminal 150 using the RF reader 155. This may be done,e.g., by placing the medical products in close proximity to the RFreader 155. Alternatively, the RF reader 155 may be located at anentrance, e.g., a doorway, of the patient's room for automaticallyreading the RFID tags 20 of these medical products as the healthcareworker enters the patient's room carrying these medical products.

[0081] In step 840, the bedside terminal 150 verifies that the patientpresent is the correct patient to receive the medical products proposedby the healthcare worker. The bedside terminal 150 may do this bycomparing the medical product information read from the RFID tags 20with information of the medical products to be administered to thepatient, which may be downloaded to the bedside terminal 155 from theassociated patient file in the database 120. The comparison may includecomparing dosage information read from the RFID 20 tags with dosageinformation from the associated patient file to confirm that the patientis receiving the correct dosage. Alternatively, or in addition, thebedside terminal 150 may compare intended patient information, e.g.,patient ID, read from the RFID tags 20 with the patient identifier inthe bedside terminal 150. The bedside terminal 130 may also check forany adverse drug interaction between the medical products brought forthe patient and medical products administered to the patient earlier byconsulting a drug interaction database. The bedside terminal 130 maydetermine that the medical products should not be administered to thepatient if it detects a mismatch in any one of these comparisons and/oran adverse drug interaction. Alternatively, the management computer 115may perform the verification step by having the bedside terminal 150transmit the information read from the RFID tags 20 to the managementcomputer 115.

[0082] In step 850, the bedside terminal 150 indicates to the healthcareworker whether to proceed with administration of the medical productsbased on the above verification, e.g., by transmitting a “go/no go”signal to the healthcare worker. The “go/no go” signal may betransmitted to the healthcare worker using a variety of output devices,including LCD displays, LEDs, and the like. For example, the “go” signalmay be a green light emitted from a light indicator and the “no go”signal may be a red light emitted from a light indicator. In addition,the “no go” signal may be a buzzing sound emitted from a buzzer.

[0083] When the bedside terminal 150 indicates to the healthcare workernot to proceed with administration, the bedside terminal 150 may providethe healthcare with the specifics of any detected mismatch via a display730, such as the identity of a medical product not to be administered tothe patient. The bedside terminal 150 may then give the healthcareworker an opportunity to correct the mismatch by repeating steps820-850. In addition, the bedside terminal 150 may transmit informationof the mismatch to the management computer 115 so that the managementcomputer 115 may include a report of the mismatch in the associatedhealthcare worker file and/or patient file. The report may includespecific information of the mismatch, including incorrect medicalproducts, incorrect dosage, and the like. The administrators of thehealthcare facility may use the report to evaluate the work performanceof the healthcare worker, including looking for any patterns inmedication errors made by the healthcare worker. The administrators mayalso pool together and evaluate the reports from different healthcareworker files to look for any system-wide pattern in medication errors atthe healthcare facility. Optionally, the healthcare worker may take theimproper or unused medical product(s) to a return bin, e.g., in theoriginal dispensing unit, to a different dispensing unit, or in aseparate return medication station, as explained further below.

[0084] When the bedside terminal 150 indicates to the healthcare workerto proceed with administration, the bedside terminal 150 may recordinformation related to the administration of the medical products to thepatient. This information may include the product names and dosages ofthe medical products administered to the patient, the date and time ofadministration and/or the identity of the healthcare workeradministering the medical products. The bedside terminal 150 maytransmit the recorded administration information to the managementcomputer 115 to be included in the associated patient file in thedatabase 120. In addition, the management computer 115 may automaticallyenter the administration information into an electronic medicationadministration record (MAR) associated with the patient, which may bestored in the database 120. This has the advantage of not relying on thehealthcare worker administering the medical products to the patient torecord manually the administration of the medical products in a MAR,which may be prone to human error. In addition, this has the advantageof providing up-to-the-minute updates to the MAR and standardizing thedocumentation in the MAR. The management computer 115 may also enter theadministration information into the billing record of the patient inorder to bill the patient's insurer for the medical productsadministered to the patient. This may help ensure that the patient'sinsurer is timely billed for only those medical products actuallyadministered to the patient.

[0085] In one embodiment, the bedside terminal 150 may include an inputdevice 720, e.g., a keypad or touch screen, to enable a healthcareworker to enter observations of the patient into the bedside terminal,such as the condition of the patient at time of administration of themedical products and the like. The bedside terminal 150 may thentransmit these observations to the management computer 115 to beincluded in the patient file and/or MAR associated with the patient.

[0086] In another embodiment, after the healthcare worker has completeda round, the healthcare worker may indicate to the management computer115 that he or she has completed the round, e.g., via a checkoutterminal (not shown) linked to the management computer 115. Themanagement computer 115 may then verify that the healthcare worker hasadministered all of the medical products to the patients assigned to himor her in that round. The management computer 115 may do this bycomparing the medical products that the healthcare worker removed fromthe dispensing unit with the medical products administered to thepatients assigned to him or her in the round. If the management detectsa mismatch, then the management computer 115 may immediately notify thehealthcare worker of the detected mismatch via a terminal linked to themanagement computer 115. This may occur, for example, if the healthcareworker becomes distracted by an emergency during the round and forgetsto administer medical products to one or more of his or her patients.The notification may include specific information of the mismatch, suchas the identity of any medical products that were removed from thedispensing unit but not administered to the intended patient.

[0087] In many cases, it is critical that medical products areadministered to a patient within a period of time after they are removedfrom the dispensing unit 410. For example, certain medical products,e.g., chemotherapy drugs, quickly loss their potency when placed in anaqueous solution. To address this, the management computer 115 accordingto an embodiment may monitor the time period between the time that amedical product is removed from the dispensing unit 410 and the timethat the medical product is administered to a patient. In thisembodiment, when a medical product is removed from the dispensing unit,the dispensing terminal 140 may record the time that the medical productis removed from the dispensing unit 410 and transmit the recorded timeto the management computer 115. When the healthcare worker, e.g., nurse,is ready to administer the medical product to the intended patient atthe patient's bedside, the bedside terminal 150 may consult with themanagement computer 115 whether to proceed with the administration. Thismay be done, e.g., by having the bedside terminal 150 transmit medicalproduct information read from the RFID tags 20 to the managementcomputer 115. The management computer 115 may then retrieve the recordedtime that the medical products were removed from the dispensing unit 410using the received medical product information. The management computer115 may then compute the time difference between the time ofadministration and the time that the medical product were removed fromthe dispensing unit 150. If the time difference exceeds a predeterminedtime limit for administering the medical product to the patient, thenthe management computer 115 may notify the bedside terminal 150 not toproceed with the administration of the medical product. Thepredetermined time limit may be based on a limited stability of thepotency of the medical product.

[0088] When the time limit for administering a medical product isexceeded, the healthcare worker may contact a physician or pharmacist,e.g., via a phone, to make a judgment call on whether to administer themedical product to the patient. In this embodiment, the physician orpharmacist may view the time difference between administration andremoval of the medical products from the dispensing unit 410 on aterminal, e.g., a personal computer, linked to the management computer115. If the physician or pharmacist determines that it is acceptable toadminister the medical product, then he or she may transmit an overridecommand to the management computer 115 to allow the healthcare worker toproceed with administering the medical product to the patient.

[0089] If a decision is made not deliver a medical product to a patient,the unused medical product may be taken to a return bin of a dispensingunit, e.g., the unit from which it was originally removed, anotherunits, or a special medication station for returned medical products.The RFID tags of the medical products in the return bin (or in theentire dispensing unit) may be read before and after the medical product(or products) is (are) placed in the return bin. A difference betweenthe readings of the RFID tags taken before and after the medical productis returned to the dispensing unit may be used to identify the medicalproduct returned to the dispensing unit. In addition, the processor ofthe dispensing unit may identify a patient intended to receive thereturned medical product, and a notice may be sent, e.g., to thepharmacy, the patient's doctor, a facility administrator, and the like,that the intended patient did not receive the returned medical product.Thus, if the failure to deliver the medical product was mistaken, actionmay be taken to correct the mistake. If the medical product was notdelivered, and it is confirmed that delivery should not be resumed, anyadministrative action that had been taken assuming that the medicalproduct was being delivered may be adjusted. Thus, the patient's record,billing, and the like may be corrected to accurately indicate themedical products that were actually delivered to the patient.

[0090] Furthermore, RF readers can be mounted in doorways so as tomonitor movement of medical products out of the pharmacy, nurse station,patient room or the like for further tracking.

[0091] In addition or alternatively, the processor may transfer aninventory of returned medical products via a communications link to acentral database, e.g., maintained by the facility's managementcomputer. For example, if a particular medical product is missing, allof the return bins in the facility may be inventoried or searched todetermine whether the medical product has been returned to a return binin one of the dispensing units. Thus, the location and status ofvirtually all of the medical products in the facility may be tracked.

[0092] Therefore, the invention provides a closed-loop system fortracking and monitoring medical products within a healthcare facility,from the time that the medical products are received by the pharmacy tothe time that they are administered to patients. The system of theinvention provides up-to-the-minute inventories of the medical productsin the pharmacy and medication-dispensing units of the healthcarefacility. In addition, the system tracks the delivery of medicalproducts from the pharmacy to the medication-dispensing units placedthroughout the healthcare facility by verifying that the dispensingunits receive medical products withdrawn from the pharmacy. Furthermore,the system monitors the removal of medical products from the dispensingunits by verifying that healthcare workers only remove those medicalproducts to be administered to patients assigned to the healthcareworkers. The system also tracks the delivery of medical products fromthe dispensing unit to patients by verifying that healthcare workersadminister all of the medical products removed from the dispensing unitto the intended patients. The system also monitors the administration ofthe medical products to patients by verifying that the patients receivethe correct medical products before administration, thereby reducing therisk of adverse drug events. In addition, the system reduces the risk oflost or stolen medical products by immediately notifying healthcareworkers and/or administrators of any missing medical products so thatthey may take appropriate action to recover and/or investigate themissing medical products.

[0093] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications, andalternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in thedrawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular formsor methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

[0094] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, various modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention, and all such modifications andequivalents are intended to be covered.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for tracking medical products, eachof the medical products having a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)tag uniquely associated therewith, the apparatus comprising: a casingcomprising a compartment for receiving one or more medical productstherein; a reader for reading the RFID tags associated with the medicalproducts in the compartment, the reader including a plurality of RFIDantennas disposed in the casing; and a processor coupled to the readerfor receiving and processing readings of the RFID tags in thecompartment to identify the medical products in the compartment. 2.Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a plurality of RFIDantennas disposed beneath the compartment.
 3. apparatus as in claim 2wherein the reader comprises a plurality of RFID antennas mounted on thebottom of the compartment.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the readercomprises a plurality of RFID antennas disposed over the compartment. 5.Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a plurality of RFIDantennas disposed beside the compartment.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the processor identifies a medical product removed from thecompartment by determining a difference between readings of the RFIDtags in the compartment taken before and after the medical product isremoved from the compartment.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein theprocessor verifies that the medical product removed from the compartmentis authorized to be removed by comparing a product identifier associatedwith the RFID tag of the removed medical product to a product identifierof a medical product authorized to be removed from the compartment. 8.The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the product identifier comprises atleast one of a product name, a product serial number, a product lotnumber, and a patient identifier.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 furthercomprising a display coupled to the processor, and wherein the processordisplays a mismatch notification on the display when the processordetects a mismatch between the product identifier read from the RFID tagof the removed medical product and the product identifier of the medicalproduct authorized to be removed.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 whereinthe mismatch notification comprises the product identifier read from theRFID tag of the removed medical product and the product identifier ofthe medical authorized to be removed.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the casing comprises a plurality of compartments, and whereinthe reader comprises a plurality of readers including antennas forreading the RFID tags of medical products in respective compartments.12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupledto the processor for identifying a patient to be associated with one ormore medical products being removed from the compartment.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a return compartment forreturning unused medical products, and a reader for reading an RFID tagof any returned medical product.
 14. An apparatus as in claim 1 whereinthe compartment includes individual sections for each receiving amedical product.
 15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein thecompartments are adapted to receive different pharmaceutical medicalproducts.
 16. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the medical productscomprise pharmaceutical products.
 17. An apparatus as in claim 1 whereinthe medical products comprise blood samples.
 18. An apparatus as inclaim 1 wherein the medical products comprise human organs.
 19. A methodfor monitoring medical products in a medical facility comprising,applying a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to a product or itscontainer, reading identification data to the tag uniquely associatedwith the medical product, associating the product with a patient,storing product and patient identification in a medical productdatabase, processing the product and storing data as a result thereof inthe database, and ensuring that the information as a result ofprocessing is associated with the particular patient in the database.20. A method as in claim 20 wherein the medical product is apharmaceutical.
 21. A method as in claim 20 wherein the medical productis one intended for the patient.
 22. A method as in 21 wherein theproduct is a human organ.
 23. A method as in claim 19 wherein themedical product is a specimen taken from a patient.
 24. A method forcounterfeit prevention with respect to medical products comprising thesteps of providing an RFID tag for a medical product and which tagcontainers a unique identification, storing the unique identificationfor each product in a master product database; sending the uniqueidentification for products to a recipient database at a recipientfacility, and transferring the products to the facility, at the medicalfacility, performing an RF scan of each product and verifying the uniqueidentification from the RF scan with the identification received, in therecipient database, and providing product information and identificationto the recipient database, and identifying any product that is notverified as an authentic product.
 25. A method as in claim 24 whereinthe recipient facility is a hospital pharmacy.
 26. A method as in claim24 wherein the unique identification is transmitted to the recipientlocation by the worldwide web.
 27. An apparatus for tracking medicalitems, each of the medical items having a Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag uniquely associated therewith, the apparatus comprising: acasing comprising a compartment for receiving one or more medicalproducts therein, a terminal associated with the casing at which itemsintended for a patient can be selected, a reader for reading the RFIDtags associated with the medical products in the compartment, the readerincluding a plurality of RFID antennas disposed in the casing; and aprocessor coupled to the reader for receiving and processing readings ofthe RFID tags in the compartment to identify the medical products in thecompartment.
 28. A system for tracking medical products wherein themedical products have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagassociated therewith, the system comprising: a management computer anddatabase for storing information relating to medical products andpatients, a pharmacy terminal and RF reader/writer for scanning receivedmedical products and for receiving patient prescription information, andproviding product and patient prescription information to the computer;a medication dispensing terminal and RF reader for receiving patientprescription information and for enabling medical products to beselected for a patient, and for allowing retrieval of the products andverifying that the proper products have been retrieved, and a bedsideterminal and RF reader for allowing the RFID tags of medical products tobe read into the bedside terminal and to verify that the proper medicalproducts for the patient is to be administered.
 29. A system as in claim28 wherein the medical products comprise drugs.
 30. A system as in claim28 further including RF readers in doorways of a facility for monitoringmovement of medical products in the facility.
 31. An apparatus fortracking medical products, each of the medical products having a RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) tag uniquely associated therewith, theapparatus comprising: a dispensing terminal for receiving one or moremedical products, a reader for reading the RFID tags associated with themedical products, the reader including an RFID antenna disposed at theterminal; and a processor coupled to the reader for receiving andprocessing readings of the RFID tags to identify the medical products atthe terminal.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the processoridentifies a medical product removed from the terminal by determining adifference between readings of the RFID tags at the terminal takenbefore and after the medical product is removed from the terminal. 33.The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processor verifies that themedical product removed from the terminal is authorized to be removed bycomparing a product identifier associated with the RFID tag of theremoved medical product to a product identifier of a medical productauthorized to be removed from the terminal.
 34. The apparatus of claim33 wherein the product identifier comprises at least one of a productname, a product serial number, a product lot number, and a patientidentifier.
 35. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising a displaycoupled to the processor, and wherein the processor displays a mismatchnotification on the display when the processor detects a mismatchbetween the product identifier read from the RFID tag of the removedmedical product and the product identifier of the medical productauthorized to be removed.
 36. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein theterminal comprises a plurality of compartments, and wherein the readercomprises a plurality of readers including antennas for reading the RFIDtags of medical products in respective compartments.
 37. The apparatusof claim 36 further comprising an input device coupled to the processorfor identifying a patient to be associated with one or more medicalproducts being removed from the compartment.
 38. An apparatus as inclaim 31 wherein the medical products comprise pharmaceutical products.